Notebook Video, Display and Touch

We have two of these laptops and both within a week of each other started having issues with the laptop screen not working unless an external monitor is plugged in. Then BOTH the screen and external monitor show what they are supposed to. I've gone into BIOS and the screen without external works there and it will work when I exit, but eventually goes back to not working without the external monitor being plugged in.

I've downloaded updated graphics as well as BIOs from the HP website. I reset the BIOS to default settings.

There is not a restore point available to roll back to on the current one I am looking at - was hoping it was related to an update - but now can't put my finger on it or attempt rollbacks. 

This began last week on one of them, and this week on the other. Based on the timeline I feel it has to do with an update of some kind for two to do it so closely all of a sudden. This is very hindering and defeats the purpose of having a mobile computer when you have to drag an external monitor along with you to be able to work.

Any solutions out there?? Can someone assist or is anyone else experiencing this same issue recently with theirs? 
My last resort will be to do the Reset PC if I can't get anywhere with new ideas here or support. I just hate doing that because then you're starting over reinstalling all your programs, etc. So that will be the last ditch effort.

Thanks in advance!